Zafira cool bag

I bought one of the plug in cool bags from Vauxhall to use in my Zafira.
Just tried it out for the first time. Connector is temperamental, have to
keep tilting it at different angles to get it to make the fan work. It
doesn't seem to get cold inside (it was hot outside by the fan) and the food
seemed to be warmer when I took it out than it was when I put it in
(prechilled purchases from the supermarket.

Any ideas of what might be wrong?

Sue

 

Be patient!

I found it took some time for mine to get cool. This is normal for this sort
of cool bag and not a Vauxhall specific problem.

It is not much use for a trip to the supermarket but it is useful for a long
journey.

--

Alan


New & used Vauxhall cars & vans, servicing, repairs & parts
www.steeles.co.uk

Vauxhall CD players & handbooks
http://www.stores.ebay.co.uk/vauxhallradiosales

 

Thanks Alan. I'm intending to use it mainly for bringing back shopping from
France. Would it be worth putting it on before I leave and putting an ice
block in it for on the way out? On the other hand, is it any better than a
traditional cool box?

Sue

 

Sue, remember that the Zafira's rear power socket -situated in the off side
rear wing storage compartment is not live all the time. If I recall
correctly it switches off after something like 15/ 20 mins. (It will stop
your battery from being drained when your engine is not running). Regarding
the cooler, we found ours takes over an hour before it starts to cool.
In answer to your question re any better than a normal cool box, the answer
is yes. When we travel a long distance in the heat of summer, even with the
air con on, items in the boot area get hot and a frozen ice pack unit soon
warms up. The electric unit does maintain a cool temperature no matter how
long the journey is.

Gio

 

Thanks Gio. I didn't know that socket cut out, I've just bought an extra bit
that is meant to stop the battery draining. Would it make ant]y difference
plugging it into the lighter socket? It's good to know that it does work
though. In future I'll plug it in when I leave home and it should cool down
before I put anything in it!

Sue

 

I only discovered the rear socket automatic cut-out when I was intending to
use the 12v supply as a power feed for my tow ball socket.

Looking at the wiring diagram, the cigarette lighter socket is fed from the
same multi-timer. The interior light and boot light also are fed from the
same timer and will turn off the interior lights automatically if a door or
boot is left open for 15 mins or so.

Gio

 

My X reg Zafira diesel dosen't cut off the current. Maybe its specific to
certain models?
Chris

 

Could well be right Chris, ours is a slightly later petrol version.

By the way, have you done anything to secure the spare wheel in its cradle
and prevent theft ? One or two cars at the local supermarket had theirs
stolen the other night. I gather the spares are deflated slightly by the
thief then the cradle released, the tyre / wheel is pulled out and the
cradle replaced. The owner will not notice the spare is missing. One man
said his tyre was removed without dropping the cradle although I suspect it
would be more of a problem. He returned as two youths were removing his I
understand.

 

An interesting point - I don't even know if it's there! I'll have a look
when my wife brings it back tonight.
Thanks
Chris

 

Gio,
What would you recommend to secure the cradle ?

Regards

Andy Sutton

 

Hi Andy,
To be honest I am thinking of making something myself on the lines of
http://www.ospreyproducts.co.uk/englishframeset.html because their item is
a little bit too expensive for what it appears (although cheap compared to a
replacement wheel
and tyre). While looking for some info on the subject, I dropped onto a
mobility type web group see link
http://www.youreable.com/forums/thread.jsp?forum=4&thread=5290 and they
discussed the problem at some length which worries me even more. I am just
going to climb under the car for a look at what holes etc may already exist.

Gio

 

I got the tyre out from underneath and the heavens opened. --It easy to
remove if deflated-- Anyway, looking at the floor area from under the car,
there is a blanking plug situated approx 350mm forward of the spare wheel
cradle bolt and 50mm towards the offside. This does align with any one of
the wheel mounting holes in the wheel if the wheel is rotated slightly
before tightening the existing cradle clamp. This makes me think that Opel
/ Vauxhall intended to fit a wheel securing clamp at one time.
From inside the car, the blanking plug must be situated somewhere under the
rear most offside seat and from the dimensions must be in the area of the
seat hinge. I cannot look any further because the other half wants (told
me) to take the car out.

Meantime I have had a reply to the fitting instructions for the proprietary
spare wheel lock and they say:- The fitting instructions tell you exactly
where the hole is in the floor and you only need a Stanley knife and the car
wheelbrace.

There must be a DIY answer that is an effective deterrent but easy to fit
and remove from inside the car should a puncture occur.

Gio